Politics · South Korea · 1 day ago
South Korea’s Supreme Court upholds fine for former lawmaker over defamation
South Korea’s Supreme Court has upheld a 700,000-won fine against former lawmaker Noh Woong-rae for defaming a businessman.
Noh named the businessman’s criminal record while speaking to reporters in 2023, as he faced trial on bribery allegations.
He said prosecutors were relying on the word of a person with 16 previous convictions to accuse him.
Courts ruled that revealing the businessman’s record went beyond what was needed to dispute the allegations.
Noh was accused of taking 60 million won in five payments in 2020 in return for help with business matters.
He was acquitted of those bribery allegations by two courts, and the acquittal became final in August after prosecutors did not appeal.
The Supreme Court’s decision makes the fine in the defamation case final.
South Korea’s Supreme Court upheld a 700,000-won fine against former lawmaker Noh Woong-rae for defaming a businessman.
The case concerned Noh’s public disclosure of the businessman’s criminal record while Noh faced a separate bribery trial.
Noh said the prosecution had relied on the word of a person with 16 previous convictions to portray him as a criminal.
The lower courts found him guilty, ruling that disclosing the informant’s record was not necessary to challenge the prosecution.
Noh was acquitted in the separate bribery case, and that acquittal became final after prosecutors did not appeal.
- Who
- Former lawmaker Noh Woong-rae and a businessman identified as Park.
- What
- The Supreme Court upheld a 700,000-won fine for defamation.
- When
- The Supreme Court rejected Noh’s appeal on October 1; the decision was reported on October 11.
- Where
- South Korea.
- Why
- Noh was convicted over remarks disclosing the businessman’s criminal record during a separate bribery trial.
Noh Woong-rae
The courts
Defamation claim
Noh Woong-rae
Noh argued he did not intend to defame the businessman and that his remarks concerned the public interest.
The courts
The courts found the remarks defamatory and upheld the fine.
Disclosure of criminal record
Noh Woong-rae
Noh said the prosecution relied on the word of a person with 16 previous convictions.
The courts
The appeals court said revealing the informant’s criminal record was unnecessary to challenge the prosecution.
The prosecution is portraying me as a criminal based only on the word of a person with 16 previous convictions.
There was no need to disclose the informant’s criminal record to go beyond rebutting the facts alleged in the indictment and point out the prosecution’s unfairness.
Noh made the remark about the businessman while attending the first hearing in his bribery case.
The appeals court upheld the defamation conviction and said disclosing the businessman’s criminal record was unnecessary.
Prosecutors did not appeal Noh’s acquittal in the bribery case, making it final.
The Supreme Court rejected Noh’s appeal and finalized the 700,000-won fine.
- Fine
- 700,000 won
- Supreme Court decision
- October 1, 2026
- Remark
- Noh referred to the businessman as having 16 previous convictions.
- Bribery case
- Noh was acquitted in the first and second trials.
- Alleged payments
- 60 million won in five payments, according to the bribery allegations.
Sources
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